Overview

Graduate programs of the Department of Electrical Engineering emphasize research-oriented graduate study through the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program and professional development through the Master of Engineering (M.E.) program. Some students may also be admitted to the research-oriented Master of Science (M.S.) program, but applicants should be aware that both financial assistance and the availability of faculty to supervise research are decided on a competitive basis. The highest priority will be given to the highest caliber of students pursuing doctoral studies.

APOGEE (A Program of Graduate Engineering Education) provides a mechanism for qualified engineers to earn agraduate-level degree while maintaining full-time employment. The program delivers graduate courses through a media-based system incorporating television, videotapes, the Internet, digital video, and periodic visits to campus.

Graduates in electrical engineering can look forward to competing successfully for careers in academia, industry, and government laboratories.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to graduate degree programs in electrical engineering (M.E., M.S., Ph.D.) include the general admission requirements of The Graduate School as well as more stringent departmental requirements, as described below. In general, the admissions process is highly competitive. Admissions decisions are based on the quality of the applicant's previous university-level academic work (as reflected by grade point average, or GPA), letters of recommendation (at least two letters are required for evaluation), GRE scores, and other evidence of past accomplishments.

For admission to the M.E., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs in electrical engineering, applicants normally hold the B.S. degree in electrical engineering from an ABET-accredited engineering program. Students holding B.S. degrees may apply for direct admission to the doctoral program; it is not necessary to complete a master's degree first. Applicants with degrees (B.S. or higher) in other engineering disciplines or physics may be admitted with additional remedial course requirements in electrical engineering at the undergraduate level. Remedial courses will typically include the prerequisites for required graduate courses, and may include additional courses in mathematics. The detailed specification of course requirements and substitutions of courses from other universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For all applicants: GRE scores must be submitted by all applicants seeking financial aid, as well as all applicants with degrees from undergraduate programs not accredited by ABET. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs less than 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) are normally required to submit GRE scores. International applicants must also submit TOEFL or the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam scores. All applicants should submit a statement of purpose (or similar essay) that describes the applicant's background, research interests, and whether or not financial aid is required. For students seeking a research-oriented degree (M.S. or Ph.D.), a preliminary contact with a research advisor is strongly suggested.

Typical successful students have GRE scores of at least 500 (verbal), 700 (quantitative), and 3.5 (analytical), as well as a TOEFL score greater than 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based) (as required by the Graduate School). The typical overall band score on the IELTS Intl. Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5.

Research Focus Areas

The department research focuses on electronics. Specific application areas include: wide bandgap microelectronics, power electronics and control, and communication/signal integrity.

Degree Requirements

Master of Engineering and Master of Science

The professional M.E. degree in electrical engineering requires 30 hours of course work beyond the B.S., at least 15 hours of which must be taken in ELCT courses numbered at the 700 level or above. Although the requirements for the M.S. degree correspond in general to those of The Graduate School (24 hours of course work beyond the B.S. plus 6 hours of thesis preparation), it should be noted that at least half of the courses taken must be in ELCT courses numbered at the 700 level or above. The following courses are the required core courses for the M.S. and M.E. programs:

ELCT 572 Power Electronics

ELCT 564 RF Circuit Design for Wireless Communication

ELCT 563 Advanced Semiconductor Materials.

M.S. students performing research in the area of signal integrity are also required to complete 3 credit hours of ELCT 897 Directed Individual Study.

The program of study has to be defined with the agreement of an appropriate advisor. Changes in the program of study are only allowed with the permission of the advisor and the graduate director. The changes have to be made at least one semester before the expected completion of the new program of study. In the preparation of the program of study, the following requirements also have to be considered:

Maximum hours outside of department: 12 hoursMinimum hours at 700 and above in electrical engineering: 15 hoursMaximum number of hours of ELCT 897: 6 hoursELCT 797 will not count toward the M.E. degree.

Students entering the M.S. or M.E. program are also required to pass a written comprehensive examination based on the core courses. This exam will be offered at the end of any semester. Questions will be prepared by the instructors of the core courses in collaboration with the graduate director. M.S. students are required to present and defend their thesis to the thesis committee.

As a summary and guideline, typical programs of study for the M.S. and M.E. degrees are:

Doctor of Philosophy

The general requirements for the Ph.D. degree are equivalent to those of The Graduate School. The course work requirement is established by the student's committee, but a minimum of 60 hours (48 hours of course work and 12 of dissertation preparation) beyond the B.S. degree is required. The program of study has to be defined with the agreement of the student's committee. Changes in the program of study are only allowed with the permission of the advisor and the graduate director. The changes have to be made at least one semester before the expected completion of the new program of study.

The following courses are the required core courses for the Ph.D. program:

ELCT 572 Power Electronics

ELCT 564 RF Circuit Design for Wireless Communication

ELCT 563 Advanced Semiconductor Materials

ELCT 530 Industrial Controls.

Ph.D. students performing research in the area of signal integrity are also required to complete 3 credit hours of ELCT 897 Directed Individual Study.

In the preparation of the program of study, the following requirements also have to be considered:

A minimum of 12 credit hours must be completed in the research field;

A maximum of 12 hours of ELCT 797 may be counted toward the Ph.D. degree.

Students entering the Ph.D. program are required to pass a written qualifying examination based on the core courses within 1.5 calendar years since they joined the program. To become Ph.D. candidates, they are also required to present a dissertation proposal within two calendar years since they joined the program. All Ph.D. students are also required to pass a comprehensive examination focusing on their research field administered by their advisory committee.

580 -- Audio Engineering. (3) (Prereq: ELCT 321, 371) Acoustic and electrical fundamentals for the design of systems for detection, measurement, and reproduction of sound with emphasis on high-quality audio systems and their environment.

752 -- Power System Grounding and Transients. (3) (Prereq: ELCT 551) Modeling and analysis techniques used in the design of electric power grounding systems, power system fault analysis, numerical techniques for power system transient analysis.

874 -- Advanced Semiconductor Materials. (3) (Prereq: ELCT 563) Principles and technology involved in the growth of both bulk and thin films of advanced semiconductor materials used in the fabrication of next generation electronic devices. Topics include principles of crystal growth, types of defects, and defect generation mechanisms.

883 -- Power Systems Stability and Control. (3) (Prereq: ELCT 751) Power system transient and dynamic stability analysis. Power system control, including excitation systems, automatic generation control and boiler-turbine-generator models.